Common Concerns about Medical Travel

While increasingly popular, medical travel is still a fairly new concept to most consumers, and those looking into medical travel inherently have a variety of concerns. This post addresses some of the common concerns that patients have about medical travel:

A. The security of Travel – Traveling overseas can be an intimidating process for many individuals. Fortunately, those that are traveling for medical purposes usually bring a family or friend, and are under consistent supervision by those managing their healthcare. Most countries abroad also maintain a lower crime rate, so security is not very often an issue.

B. Cost of Bringing a Friend or Family Member – Traveling with a friend or family member is highly recommended when traveling for a procedure. Even with the extra cost of another person, patients still save a significant amount of money.

C. Finding a Treatment Facility – For many patients, figuring out where to travel for a procedure can be difficult. Nevertheless, most countries participating in medical travel present a type of specialty treatment specific to their country. For example, Costa Rica specializes in cosmetic and dental procedures, while India specializes in joint or open-heart surgery. Finding a country with a specific specialty procedures has become increasing easy in recent years.

D. Complications upon Return – One worry that many patients have is dealing with complications after returning to the U.S. In order to avoid complications, most hospitals and doctors overseas recommend that patients stay for the duration of their rehabilitation and recovery. Doctors performing the procedure abroad may also correspond with doctors doing post-operative care at home.

References:
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/10/01/13-smart-questions-and-quick-answers-about-medical-tourism.html

Motivation for Medical Travel

For many, the major motivation of traveling abroad for medical reasons is the idea of saving money on a procedure that costs much more in the U.S. While this is generally satisfactory motivation for most, there remains a variety of other reasons why one might choose to travel overseas for medical care.

There are an estimated 85 million uninsured and under insured individuals in the U.S., and 120 million U.S. citizens without dental coverage. Those individuals can explore much less expensive options for healthcare overseas, often with more personalized care. Standard insurance does not cover many elective procedures in the U.S., which motivates patients looking for a cheaper alternative to consider medical travel. Another motivating factor is that foreign countries also permit some procedures not currently approved in the U.S., which is attractive to those faced with serious conditions.

Family is another motivator for many patients looking into medical travel. Some simply join a loved one for their procedure abroad, and others seek to help a family member benefit from medical travel.

There are many reasons for an individual to travel outside the U.S. for medical care. Every individual should asses their situation and motivation for considering medical travel, and plan accordingly.

References:
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/10/01/6-types-of-patients-who-might-benefit-from-medical-travel.html

Three Quick Questions and Answers about Medical Travel

How safe is healthcare abroad? - One of the most common questions about medical travel is whether it is safe to receive healthcare abroad. Those unfamiliar with foreign-based healthcare may perceive it to be less safe than American care. However, healthcare abroad is in fact much safer in some instances. Hospitals accredited by U.S. organizations, such as the Joint Commission, hold safety and care standards that are the same or higher than hospitals in the U.S.

What is the cost of overseas care vs. U.S. care? - The cost of traveling overseas for medical treatment is significantly less for most procedures costing more than $6,000 in the United States. The exact amount of savings depends on the type of procedure, travel expenses, and the country in which the surgery is taking place.

Which procedures are available abroad? - The availability of different medical treatments abroad has drastically increased in the last few years. Almost every procedure that is available in the U.S. is now available outside the U.S. as well. This includes major joint replacement, heart surgeries, cancer care, and a variety of others. In addition, doctors that perform the procedures receive training and accreditation within the U.S.

References:

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/10/01/13-smart-questions-and-quick-answers-about-medical-tourism.html

The Informed Patient and Medical Travel

Recently, USNews.com posted a study of two different patients that saved a large amount of money by traveling overseas for their medical needs.

The first patient traveled to Ezcazu, Costa Rica to receive dental care that was too expensive in the United States. For $2,600 – minuscule compared to prices in the U.S. - she received care from an oral surgeon trained in the U.S. The surgeon used premium equipment and material for the surgery, and even with the cost of travel, she saved a significant amount of money by traveling abroad for the procedure.

The second patient traveled to Chennai, India for hip resurfacing, and was able to save over $40,000 by traveling overseas for medical care. He was able to bring his wife along and receive care in a high quality facility with exceedingly skilled doctors.

Though these are only two individual experiences, they exhibit the increasingly well-informed personality of the patient, and the growth in demand for medical travel. Patients are researching their options online, figuring out how to save money with medical travel, and experiencing great results.

View the case study at http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/10/01/two-case-studies-in-medical-travel.html.

Following the Example and Innovation of WellPoint

Because of the rapid growth in popularity of the medical tourism industry, some U.S. health insurance companies are adding a medical travel offering to their plan. WellPoint Inc. – the largest U.S. health insurer by membership – recently announced an international medical tourism product for their members, and is currently testing it with Wisconsin-based company Serigraph, Inc.

According to WellPoint, those participating in the program have the option of receiving non-emergency procedures from highly qualified doctors and facilities in India. These non-emergency procedures include major joint replacement and additional surgeries that are extremely costly in the U.S. WellPoint estimates that members using the program will save thousands of dollars by participating.

Along with the benefit of low cost surgery overseas, members also receive a manager for their case. The case manager assists with the synchronization of travel, scheduling, the coordination of the actual procedure, and remains with the individual’s case through post surgical rehabilitation and other needed after-surgery care. WellPoint claims that all hospitals participating in the program meet standards set by the American Medical Association, and have gained certification from Joint Commission International.

WellPoint is setting a prime example for other companies in the health insurance industry. By offering this program, they are helping to legitimize medical travel, and provide U.S. citizens with a less-costly option for particular procedures.

View the WellPoint press release about their new medical tourism program at www.WellPoint.com.

References:

www.WellPoint.com

Medical Travel – Thoughts for Employers Part 2

As discussed in - Thoughts for Employers Part 1, - medical travel represents a viable option for employers looking to cut costs in their healthcare plans without reducing quality of care. Many employers often save enough money through their medical travel program to initiate incentives for employees using the companies medical travel benefits. Some employers are able to cover all travel expenses and waive the deductible for their employees as incentives to travel abroad.


Employers are often concerned about whether or not their employees will want to travel overseas for a procedure, or stay in the familiar ground of the U.S. While an employer may add a medical travel option to their healthcare plan, it’s a not a requirement to travel abroad for the procedure. The employee always has the option of traveling overseas or staying within the U.S. Employees choosing to travel abroad do so because of the incentives provided by their employer and the high quality of care overseas.


In several countries such as India, Korea, Argentina, and Belgium, care may be better than care in the U.S. with more personalized attention from doctors and staff. Those that choose to travel for a procedure frequently experience better facilities and receive better care than they would by staying in the country. Furthermore, many doctors abroad receive training and certification within the U.S..


Studies are underway to see if employers who provide these benefits to their employees receive job inquires from more qualified and experienced people. Though some employers offer these benefits, others may not do to liability, complications, perceived steerage, and other legal issues. Employers should make themselves aware of the legal issues before they initiate an incentives or benefits plan.


References:
http://www.selectchoicenow.com/services.htm

Medical Travel - Thoughts for Employers Part 1

With the turn of each New Year, the medical travel industry becomes more expansive. The worth of the industry is now at estimates well over $60 billion, and is quickly growing So, who stands to benefit from the growth of the medical travel industry?


Employers are one group that may benefit tremendously by integrating medical travel benefits as part of their healthcare offering to employees. By adding medical travel as a benefit in their health plan, employers can save up to 50% on certain procedures for their staff. These procedures can include anything from heart surgery to hip replacement surgery. As many realize after a little research, employers can offer their employees the same or better quality care as they would receive in the U.S., but at a much lower cost.


American health carriers like Blue Cross Blue Shield have started to incorporate medical travel as an elective option for coverage - giving employers even more option in their choice of health care benefits. It’s no secret that the benefits of medical travel currently outweigh the financial costs for many employers. However, to compete with the overseas healthcare industry, many American providers have now started offering certain procedures at the same price. Business owners should consult with a professional firm to assess their situation and choose the right plan for their company.


References:
http://www.healthpopuli.com/2008/07/medical-tourism-primer-for-employers_18.html